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IANS
New Delhi
India’s love affair with Morocco is nearly 700 years old, from much before the country’s cuisine gained international repute.
Located on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, Morocco was on the Spice Route from Kerala to the Middle East and Europe and, therefore, acquired a number of spices, while there is a lot of Indian influence in Moroccan food, Ambassador to India Mohammed Maliki said at a preview lunch for the Moroccan Food Festival that got underway here on Friday.
The chicken tajine is a classic Moroccan recipe using preserved lemons, olives and onions. It can be cooked in an authentic tajine or roasted in the oven. The secret of its exquisite taste lies in marinating the chicken for five-six hours with lemon, onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, ginger, pepper, turmeric, salt and the Ras el Hanout spice mix. Moroccan food has become globally famous for its use of spices.
Among the various salads on offer was the Zaalouk made of cooked tomatoes, aubergine and eggplant, which is a popular vegetable used in Middle Eastern cooking. The salad is enhanced with garlic, olive oil and spices and is a common side dish to Middle Eastern meals.
The lamb dish on offer was the classic sweet and sour tajine with prunes that combined dried prunes and lamb meat with the ginger, saffron, cinnamon, and pepper. It’s popular as a traditional offering at holiday gatherings, weddings, and other special occasions.
Another very tasty main dish laid was the nutrient-rich Rfissa made of chicken and lentils - again slow cooked with spices. The unique Moroccan flaky bread called Msemmen forms the base for the dish with the lentil stew acting as a sauce for the pancakes.
New Delhi
India’s love affair with Morocco is nearly 700 years old, from much before the country’s cuisine gained international repute.
Located on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, Morocco was on the Spice Route from Kerala to the Middle East and Europe and, therefore, acquired a number of spices, while there is a lot of Indian influence in Moroccan food, Ambassador to India Mohammed Maliki said at a preview lunch for the Moroccan Food Festival that got underway here on Friday.
The chicken tajine is a classic Moroccan recipe using preserved lemons, olives and onions. It can be cooked in an authentic tajine or roasted in the oven. The secret of its exquisite taste lies in marinating the chicken for five-six hours with lemon, onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, ginger, pepper, turmeric, salt and the Ras el Hanout spice mix. Moroccan food has become globally famous for its use of spices.
Among the various salads on offer was the Zaalouk made of cooked tomatoes, aubergine and eggplant, which is a popular vegetable used in Middle Eastern cooking. The salad is enhanced with garlic, olive oil and spices and is a common side dish to Middle Eastern meals.
The lamb dish on offer was the classic sweet and sour tajine with prunes that combined dried prunes and lamb meat with the ginger, saffron, cinnamon, and pepper. It’s popular as a traditional offering at holiday gatherings, weddings, and other special occasions.
Another very tasty main dish laid was the nutrient-rich Rfissa made of chicken and lentils - again slow cooked with spices. The unique Moroccan flaky bread called Msemmen forms the base for the dish with the lentil stew acting as a sauce for the pancakes.
